In case you missed it, the hit TV show, “Beyond Scared Straight” visited San Quentin State Prison for last week’s episode. The program the show depicts has since been suspended after the US Department of Justice threatened to cut off funding to several states that operate Scared Straight-type programs. The DOJ says such programs are ineffective and actually may increase a kid’s likelihood to commit a crime. Some of our commenters would disagree–one, who’s seen the program in action wrote in that:
Beyond Scared Straight
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States suspend “Beyond Scared Straight” programs
A&E
Corcoran State Prison: Site of episode 2 of "Beyond Scared Straight."
According to the Associated Press, California and Maryland have both suspended youth intervention programs featured on the popular TV show, “Beyond Scared Straight.” Three of the programs highlighted in the first season of the show (which has drawn record breaking audiences) have been at California prisons at Corcoran, Chowchilla, and on this week’s upcoming episode, San Quentin. The reason for the suspension was an opinion released this week by the US Department of Justice that warns states that programs that try to scare juveniles into good behavior don’t work–and states that operate them may actually be at risk for losing federal funds.
DOJ: Kids can’t be scared straight
Inmate to kid: "I'll fold you like a piece of paper."
In response to the wildly popular new A&E series, “Beyond Scared Straight,” two administrators at the Department of Justice published an editorial in the Baltimore Sun earlier this week. “Beyond Scared Straight” basically follows a group of kids as they’re taken on elaborate tours of state prisons and are cajoled and intimidated by inmates. The editorial’s authors, Laurie O. Robinson and Jeff Slowikowski, say that there’s nothing productive about exposing kids to harassment. Kids, they say, cannot be scared straight: